A Trip to Square Enix’s Artnia Café

Square Enix’s store is no more, but that’s no reason to fret! The spirit lives on at their new cafe, Artnia. When Yusouf came to Japan, he and I visited this cafe and had a some coffee and pancakes. Artnia is right near Square’s offices, housed in the strange egg-like structure above.

The cafe part of Artnia sticks to a very strict red and white color scheme, which nicely complements the constant smooth jazz (surprisingly non-game-related) soundtrack.

They had a special pancake available on the day we went.

Yu ordered it, and the Cactuar kind of matched the color scheme.

…and a “potion” to drink as well, which was actually a glass of ginger ale.

Meanwhile, I went for a coffee, and got a cute chocobo in my foam.

…and a Moogle to match my strawberry pancakes.

Above is a look at the menu you’ll find in the café section of Artnia.

However, I mentioned that the spirit of their old store lives on at Artnia, and the non-café part of the store is devoted to Square Enix goods.

They even have a shelf devoted to soundtracks and games.

The three iPads at the bottom will allow you to listen to any soundtrack they sell, which doesn’t make not buying them any easier…

Finally, there’s the showroom, where they show off the expensive stuff. At the center of the room is, of course, a crystal. The water around it seems to be moving upwards. (The music in this room is different too, but, bafflingly, it was Christmas music).

The things in the showroom vary from Play Arts toys for both Square Enix and non-Square Enix franchises…

…to jewelry and keyrings.

And of course, Final Fantasy VII cologne based on Cloud and Sephiroth.

“And of course, Final Fantasy VII cologne based on Cloud and Sephiroth.”
Of course.

Sardorim

Where’s my Aeirth and Tifa perfume?!

http://s1.zetaboards.com/Espada_of_Alexandria/index/ konpon568

What about Yuffie and Vincent? They smell nice, too! I think…

Miss_Madness

I’m not sure if Vincent would smell nice considering a few things.

Barrylocke89

But do you REALLY want to smell like Cloud? I imagine the scent of SOLDIERS is Eau de Sweat.

Double Cross

In my mind, Cloud smells largely of chemicals. Not pleasant, but in a way that makes you think ‘at least he’s clean’.

Enma_Kozato

My stepsister and I tried going there when we visited Japan this summer, but we got lost in the back alleys where all the host clubs were (> u <;;) We ended up finding the Capcom bar though, haha.

Chaos_Knight

Why does Japan hog all the goodies? ;_;

Steven Higgins

Because building structures like this costs more than the American Government is willing to spend on something such a limited number of people would go to.
As much as we like them, and as popular as they are, we have to admit that anime, manga and videogames, esp Japanese games, still only have a niche fanbase here when compared to American entertainment.
Do you know how many people went to Otakon this year? Only 20,000. And that’s still twice as many as last year. Half those people probably won’t even show up next year and were likely only there this time because it was the 20th Anniversary.

In short, don’t blame Japan, blame America for not appreciating this stuff as much as it should.

Chaos_Knight

I didn’t need a long and detailed answer. Thank you. -_-

D. Collins

LOL

ninjabart122

If you didn’t need it, I will, since I enjoyed reading that since I’m a sucker for good explanations for rhetorical questions.

Covnam

What does this have to do with the American Gov’t? If SquareEnix thought they could make enough money by buying a plot of land and building a store/cafe like this somewhere in the US, they’d do it. Obviously that is not the case.

And since you mentioned some numbers, I got curious and looked them up. The Otakon website doesn’t have official numbers yet, but the unconfirmed numbers were just under 35,000 for 2013. Here’s the offical numbers for past years: http://otakon.com/history_stats.asp

Just fyi, it was almost 31,000 last year and just under 30,000 the year before.

Anyway, back on topic. The parfaits there are really delicious too. I was disappointed though that the buster sword in the chocolate parfait was also chocolate as when I first saw it on the menu I thought it was a cool plastic souvenir.

Steven Higgins

I was at Otakon and the workers kept saying there was at least twice as many people as last year and that they’ve never seen so many before. Given how many people live in the US, even 35,000 is a pretty small number.
But I see what you mean. It would be Square spending the money. Whenever I think of construction I think of the Government. I guess because I keep thinking about “city improvement plans”

Ashelia Poundland Dalmasca

at least you guys have nintendo world

https://twitter.com/BinksFrost Binks5

nice i wanna visit it someday i want those chocobo plushies

Chim_era

Don’ they have a fan site with goodies? Would make them a lot of money …

fool

I checked it out a few months ago and it was definitely the best official themed cafe-thing in Tokyo that I saw. The Gundam Cafe wasn’t very good.

Enma_Kozato

Gotta agree with the Gundam Cafe, the one located in Odaiba especially. While Akihabara’s Gundam cafe has a full menu with customer seating, their store was just as dinky and lacking as the one in Odaiba.

fool

Well Odaiba does have the 1/1 RX-78 so that’s pretty hot! (And the Gundam Front which is a little less hot)

But yeah the menu at Artnia isn’t just gimmicky overpriced novelties…the cocktail (a hi-potion) and the pancake set I had were actually quite good! And I was there during the Vagrant Story exhibit so that was all class…

mockturtle

“(The music in this room is different too, but, bafflingly, it was Christmas music).”

Parasite Eve 4 confirmed?!

personablaze

Man i would cry tears of joy/happiness/more joy if that were the case.

Oh and i want the real aya back plz!

neocatzon

But, but, that ending.. I’m not even sure what actually happened to Aya.

MasterScrub

Shoutouts to Square for having English on their menus.

Chaos_Knight

It’s as if this is a tourist area.

AuraGuyChris

I want a Choco-plushie!

Flynn Scifo

O.o … wow.

D. Collins

Ohhhhhhh that Kazuya Mishima figure!!!

laurenhiya21

Woah I could easily spend sooo much money in there o-o

powerlessbump

So floor Sephiroth didn’t make it over? I wonder where he ended up….

$61526767

If i were there right now…*looks in wallet* well wallet, time to say good-bye.. CUZ we ’bout to stock up some goodies! Seriously, I would love to buy all those nice things. And that yummy looking dessert? Yum. lol

ishyg

I went there, and I went home full of regret, because I don’t have any money.

Frenzytoast

Was actually just there today! Was pretty awesome!

Göran Isacson

WonderNyan plush dolls. Nothing else matters- I must own.

Guilherme Matheus Silva

OMG! I want that Black Mage Chocobo!!!

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